Drywall and ceiling tile installers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Mean (average) | $63,600 | $30.58 |
| 90th percentile | $102,010 | $49.04 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Drywall and ceiling tile installers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,000 | $37,280 | $60,890 | 650 | 0.58 |
| Alaska | $73,690 | $46,800 | $88,300 | 100 | 0.56 |
| Arizona | $50,290 | $37,470 | $66,750 | 2,590 | 1.49 |
| Arkansas | $44,550 | $34,520 | $48,800 | 240 | 0.34 |
| California | $65,880 | $46,050 | $120,240 | 27,280 | 2.8 |
| Colorado | $61,780 | $44,520 | $79,460 | 1,560 | 1.01 |
| Connecticut | $60,480 | $45,690 | $82,480 | 300 | 0.33 |
| Delaware | $50,170 | $35,720 | $62,390 | 350 | 1.34 |
| Florida | $48,970 | $33,460 | $61,520 | 6,000 | 1.13 |
| Georgia | $58,260 | $34,180 | $78,990 | 690 | 0.27 |
| Hawaii | $104,830 | $50,230 | $119,660 | 800 | 2.4 |
| Idaho | $43,790 | $29,580 | $64,820 | 920 | 2 |
| Illinois | $63,180 | $41,870 | $110,620 | 740 | 0.23 |
| Indiana | $49,810 | $43,730 | $69,850 | 680 | 0.4 |
| Iowa | $51,030 | $36,750 | $67,650 | 290 | 0.35 |
| Kansas | $39,890 | $35,880 | $61,410 | 650 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $48,340 | $23,020 | $68,760 | 490 | 0.46 |
| Louisiana | $47,420 | $28,310 | $77,740 | 310 | 0.3 |
| Maine | $60,080 | $49,070 | $71,220 | 150 | 0.43 |
| Maryland | $54,680 | $39,400 | $73,230 | 1,470 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 | $34,220 | $93,810 | 590 | 0.31 |
| Michigan | $58,440 | $42,640 | $76,960 | 1,050 | 0.45 |
| Minnesota | $61,290 | $45,570 | $91,520 | 1,050 | 0.67 |
| Mississippi | $37,310 | $28,100 | $52,900 | 110 | 0.17 |
| Missouri | $62,580 | $46,310 | $91,780 | 550 | 0.35 |
| Montana | $60,140 | $45,870 | $79,240 | 170 | 0.63 |
| Nebraska | $48,620 | $37,140 | $62,580 | 770 | 1.41 |
| Nevada | $52,280 | $41,430 | $101,780 | 2,980 | 3.6 |
| New Hampshire | $61,960 | $44,180 | $102,130 | 370 | 1.02 |
| New Jersey | $75,080 | $37,990 | $118,200 | 1,340 | 0.58 |
| New Mexico | $53,900 | $37,440 | $77,150 | 580 | 1.24 |
| New York | $61,280 | $46,860 | $118,450 | 2,840 | 0.55 |
| North Carolina | $45,080 | $31,420 | $60,180 | 1,520 | 0.58 |
| North Dakota | $45,110 | $37,340 | $57,510 | 130 | 0.55 |
| Ohio | $61,420 | $42,410 | $74,400 | 1,680 | 0.57 |
| Oklahoma | $46,080 | $41,860 | $49,790 | 280 | 0.31 |
| Oregon | $73,530 | $36,460 | $114,670 | 1,680 | 1.6 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | $39,410 | $77,980 | 1,690 | 0.52 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,420 | $22,010 | $48,930 | 320 | 0.65 |
| Rhode Island | $47,110 | $38,090 | $79,510 | 440 | 1.66 |
| South Carolina | $45,340 | $32,340 | $68,600 | 340 | 0.28 |
| South Dakota | $48,850 | $42,400 | $59,380 | 360 | 1.49 |
| Tennessee | $47,510 | $37,220 | $65,650 | 1,150 | 0.65 |
| Texas | $47,590 | $35,260 | $61,030 | 5,760 | 0.77 |
| Utah | $51,020 | $37,160 | $68,920 | 2,610 | 2.81 |
| Vermont | $59,820 | $47,590 | $71,280 | 90 | 0.55 |
| Virginia | $55,840 | $39,040 | $71,330 | 2,480 | 1.13 |
| Washington | $73,130 | $50,360 | $127,970 | 2,670 | 1.41 |
| Wisconsin | $59,970 | $38,490 | $85,340 | 1,140 | 0.72 |
| Wyoming | $43,990 | $39,470 | $55,470 | 140 | 0.92 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 19.4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Drywall Installation/Drywaller CIP 46.0404
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
- Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
- Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.
- Hang drywall panels on metal frameworks of walls and ceilings in offices, schools, or other large buildings, using lifts or hoists to adjust panel heights, when necessary.
- Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
- Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
- Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
- Cut fixture or border tiles to size, using keyhole saws, and insert them into surrounding frameworks.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Business management software
- Construction Software Center EasyEst
- DevWave Estimate Works
- Job costing software
- Logic Group Scanner Digitizing Software
- On Center Quick Bid
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Wilhelm Publishing Threshold
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Ceiling Installer, Drywall Finisher, Drywall Hanger, Drywall Installer, Drywall Mechanic, Installer, Metal Framer, Metal Stud Framer, Sheetrock Hanger, Sheetrock Installer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make?
The national median annual wage for drywall and ceiling tile installers was $58,930 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,460 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $102,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do drywall and ceiling tile installers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is drywall and ceiling tile installers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of drywall and ceiling tile installers to change +2.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay drywall and ceiling tile installers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($104,830), New Jersey ($75,080), Alaska ($73,690). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.